Landscaping with aloes

By Andy de Wet

Landscaping and gardening in general has always been about the beautification of man’s surroundings. The quest for something new and better, always drives man to expand into new, previously neglected avenues. Aloes have been overlooked as landscaping plants, but the recent introduction of great new aloe hybrids has changed that. 

The contribution to the local environment is the main reason why local plants are preferred in garden layouts these days. If the local creatures know the plants in your garden, they will be attracted into your garden and may even be sustained by your garden. Aloes are ideal to attract birds to the garden as sunbirds, and some other birds, love aloe nectar, that is produced all day as there is little other food for them in winter. Bees and other insects are also attracted to aloes for pollen and nectar.

Aloes make great landscaping plants because they have an enormous variety in shapes and sizes, rendering them useful in many applications.  Aloes hybrids flower generally very slowly, thus providing a show for an extended period of time. This is especially true in hybrids are bred to flower profusely with bright colors.

Aloes flower when most other garden subjects don’t, thus giving colour to landscapes that would generally be dull during the winter season. Some hybrids, such as ‘Tiger Eye’ and lemon drops flower throughout the year.n

The scarcity and price of water is becoming a relevant consideration in garden design. Aloes require little care and can tolerate long periods of very dry conditions.

Aloes are rugged sun loving plants with an amazing variety of sculptural shapes and sizes, opening unlimited design possibilities.

1. Aloes can be very effective when combined with rock.
2. A much better show can be achieved when mass planting, or grouping flowering aloes of the same variety together, especially if one can group different colors near each other.
3. The architectural look of a large specimen can give one a dramatic effect if it is used as a centerpiece, or focal point. This is often good at the entrance of a property.
4. Aloes are also great pot plants.

De Wet Plant Breeders, headed by Andy de Wet, have released several very successful aloe hybrids in recent years that are suitable for domestic and commercial gardens.